Issue - meetings

To consider a report from the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) outlining their deliberations on the call-in relating to charging for a second green bin.

The Cabinet noted the outcome of the Panel’s call-in of a Cabinet’s decision regarding charging for a second green bin and reiterated that the proposal will be considered with all the Council’s options for saving measures as part of the Medium Term Plan.

(The Chairman announced that he proposed to admit the following urgent item in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972 given the need for the Council to respond to the “call-in” of the decision of the Cabinet relating to the introduction of a charge for a second green bin).

Further to Minute No. 12/66 and with the assistance of a report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the deliberations of the Panel in relation to their “call-in” of the decision made by the Cabinet on charging for collecting second green bins at its meeting on the 22^nd November 2012.

Executive Councillors were advised that the Panel recognised the need for savings and accepted that the current proposal of charging for an additional bin may need to be implemented.  However, they felt that a judgement on charging for collecting second green bins cannot be made unless there was a comprehensive assessment of all the Council’s options. Having reiterated that the proposal will be considered with all the Council’s options for saving measures as part of the Medium Term Plan, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the views expressed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be noted.

To consider the decision made by the Cabinet on 22^nd November 2012 on charging for a second green bin, which has been called-in by the Panel, as described in a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

(Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader of the Council, and Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Councillor for Environment, were in attendance for consideration of this item).

Pursuant to Minute No. 12/38 and following publication of the Cabinet’s decision on 22nd November 2012 regarding charging for a second green bin, the Panel gave this matter further consideration. The reasons for the call-in were outlined within a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). The Panel was disappointed that its previous recommendation had not been accepted by the Cabinet.

The three Members who had called in the matter felt that the decision reached by the Cabinet was ambiguous and unclear and expressed the view that a formal assessment should be made of the environmental impacts of the proposals. Furthermore, it was suggested that a list of all the possible savings the Council might make should be compiled and prioritised before a decision was taken on charging for a second green bin.

The Executive Leader of the Council informed the Panel that the Cabinet intended to review all the Council’s options for making savings and increasing income, including the proposal to charge for collecting second green bins, later in the year. If no alternatives were identified, then it was likely that the scheme would proceed. However, the Panel was of the view that if a comprehensive exercise was going to be undertaken to review the Council’s finances, it would be premature to make an “in principle” decision on one item.

In response to a question on what other options for savings had been considered, the Executive Leader advised that approximately £1m had already been saved and others were being considered. Members were reminded of the adoption of the Leadership Direction, one of the targets of which was to achieve a balanced budget. To do this, savings in the order of £3.2m would be required by 2017/18. All options, therefore, were being examined. The Executive Leader gave an undertaking that he would keep Members informed of progress in this respect.

The Panel recognised the need for savings to be made and accepted that the current proposal might need to be implemented. Members were, however, of the view that a judgement could not be made on charging for collecting second green bins unless a comprehensive assessment of all the Council’s options was made available. The Cabinet was requested to produce a list of all possible savings and to prioritise them. Councillor T V Rogers indicated that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) also advocated this approach. In addition, it was suggested that a list of savings already made should be produced to assist the decision making process.

Members received clarification of a number of operational matters connected with the proposal, including whether churches and village halls would be charged, if any operational savings would be achieved and when particular bins would be collected. A suggestion was made that a price analysis was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58

To consider a report by the Head of Operations detailing options for charging for a second recycling bin.

Approved in principle the introduction of a charge for a second green bin but that the timing of the implementation be delegated to the Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships and Projects) after consultation with the Executive Leader and the Executive Councillor for Environment and to be in association with a package of other savings measures to be decided no later than April 2013.

(Councillor T V Rogers, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny (Economic Panel), was in attendance and spoke on this item).

Pursuant to Minute No. 49, the Cabinet gave further consideration to the report of the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) in light of comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) on the proposal to introduce an annual charge of £40 for an additional green waste bin. The report had been considered previously by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) who were of the opinion that the Council should not introduce a charge.

The Executive Councillor for Environment outlined the background to the proposal. He explained that the Council currently spends £1.3M on collecting green waste for which the Council does not receive any additional funding. Members’ attention was drawn to 13 authorities who charge between £15 and £140 per annum for the collection of a second green bin and to 6 authorities who charge for all their green waste collections.

Having regard to the set up cost of the proposals, the Executive Councillor for Environment explained that efforts had already been made to reduce the capital costs and that unwanted second bins would be removed from those households not wishing to take up the premium service. He added that whilst there may be an immediate reduction in the green waste collected, he would be surprised if the level of green waste is reduced in the medium term.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor T V Rogers, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) addressed the Cabinet.  Councillor Rogers explained that whilst the Panel supported a charge for a second green bin in principle they were of the opinion that it should be considered in the context of a range of other options for achieving budgetary savings. In that respect, he added that an informal meeting of the Panel had been arranged for 29^th November 2012 to discuss priority areas for savings.

Having reiterated that the Council was constantly reviewing all services to identify savings and that consideration would need to be given to a number of difficult budgetary decisions in the future, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the introduction of a charge for a second green bin be approved in principle but that the timing of the implementation be delegated to the Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships and Projects) after consultation with the Executive Leader and the Executive Councillor for Environment and to be in association with a package of other savings measures to be decided no later than April 2013.

To consider a report by the Head of Operations setting out the case for reducing the cost of the refuse and recycling service by introducing a charge for second green bins.

This item has been referred to the Panel from the Cabinet and a copy of a report on the matter by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) is attached.

Members of the Overview & Scrutiny (Environmental Well-Being Panel) have been invited to attend to partake in the discussions on this Agenda Item.

Councillors M Banerjee, Ward Member for Yaxley and Farcet, I C Bates, Ward Member for the Hemingfords,  P L E Bucknell, Ward Member for Warboys and Bury, Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Councillor for the Environment,  and Councillor J D Ablewhite were in attendance for this Item).

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) setting out the case for reducing the cost of the refuse and recycling service by introducing an annual charge of £40 for an additional green waste bin.  The report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) who had agreed that the Council should not introduce a charge and the Cabinet had referred the matter to the Overview and Scrutiny (Economic Well-Being) for further consideration.

Councillor D M Tysoe explained that the Council currently spent £1.3M on collecting green waste, which represented 40% of the Council’s total costs for waste collection and for which the Council did not receive any additional funding. A significant number of other Authorities charged a separate fee for all green waste collection. The Council was proposing to provide free collection of the first green bin for all its residents but the collection of the second green bin should be regarded as a premium service and, therefore should attract a charge. For the majority of residents in the District this represented no change to the current service.

Councillor Tysoe then sought to address the concerns which had been raised previously regarding the impact of the changes on green waste collection levels with the District. He suggested that whilst there might be an immediate reduction in the green waste collected, he did not expect the level of green waste collected to be lower in the medium term. The Panel’s attention was drawn to the sensitivity analysis which was set out in section 6.2 of the report. This was based on a 40% reduction in residents subscribing to the new service. Councillor Tysoe reiterated that whilst the Council had previously sought to resist making cuts to services, the current budgetary situation dictated that consideration would need to be given to a number of difficult decisions in the future.

Members asked about the experience of other Councils who had introduced a charge for the collection of a second green bin. The Panel noted that there were currently 13 Authorities who made such a charge which ranged from £15 to £140 per annum. It was also reported that there had been no increase in fly tipping in those areas. Members indicated that it would have been useful to have had this type of information together with the detailed financial analysis within the report.

In considering the proposal, Members expressed concerns that it would result in residents putting additional green waste into their domestic waste bins and enquired what steps the Council would take if a resident did not pay the charge for the second green bin. Members were assured that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55

To consider a report by the Head of Operations detailing options for charging for a second recycling bin.

that the matter be deferred to the next meeting of the Cabinet to able the report of the Head of Operations to be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being).

(Councillor I C Bates, Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel) (Environmental Well-Being) was in attendance and spoke on this item).

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) setting out a case for reducing the cost of the refuse and recycling service by introducing an annual charge of £40 for an additional green waste bin.  The document had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) whose comments were relayed to the Cabinet. The Panel were of the opinion that the Council should not introduce a charge.

The Executive Councillor for Environment reported that the Operations Team was looking at ways to reduce its costs while maintaining service standards and raising revenue.  He explained that the free collection of the first green bin for all residents would remain but the collection of additional green bins would be regarded as a premium service and therefore should attract a charge.  This would be fairer to all residents and would provide a significant return for the Council.

Having regard to the practicalities of the proposals and the set up costs, the Executive Councillor for Environment expressed a view that it would be more cost effective to remove unwanted additional bins from those households not wishing to take up the premium service rather than changing the colour of the bin lid.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor I C Bates, Member of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well Being) addressed the Cabinet.  Councillor Bates explained that the waste collection service was a highly valued service and any charge for an additional bin would damage the public perception of the Council.  He stressed that the proposal could impact on the level of green waste collected at a time when the Council should be looking to increase performance by promoting recycling. He argued that the implementation of the proposal would lead to an increase in fly-tipping. Councillor Bates acknowledged that the Council needed to make further savings but was of the opinion that these should be focused on non-statutory services such as leisure.  In response to which, the Executive Leader reiterated that the Council was constantly reviewing all services to identify savings as part of the budget process. He also reported that the proposal would impact on a very small percentage of the district’s population.  With regard to alternative saving streams, the Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities reminded Members that a Business Plan for the future of the One Leisure Service would be considered at the December Cabinet meeting. Finally, the Executive Councillor for Environment assured Members that as fly-tipping was a criminal offence enforcement action would be undertaken where necessary.

Having received a request from the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) that the Panel be given an opportunity to consider details of the proposal, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the matter be deferred to the next meeting of the Cabinet to able  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49

To consider a report by the Head of Operations setting out the case for reducing the cost of the refuse and recycling service by introducing a charge for second green bins.

(Councillor P L E Bucknell, Ward Member for Warboys and Bury, and Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Councillor for the Environment, were in attendance for this Item.)

Councillor D M Tysoe introduced a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on charging for a second green bin. He advised the Panel that the Council was looking at ways to reduce its costs while maintaining service standards and raising revenue.  He also stated that some London Borough Councils charged for all green waste collections.  Huntingdonshire District Council proposed to provide free collection of the first green bin for all residents but the collection of the second green bin should be regarded as a premium service and, therefore, should attract a charge.  Councillor Tysoe expressed the view that this would be fairer to all residents as currently the majority of additional green bins were in seven wards and other wards were effectively subsidising their service.

Having regard to the practicalities of the proposals, Members were advised of the need for additional green bins to be easy to distinguish as operatives should not be tasked with responding to complaints and arbitration in questions of eligibility when going about their rounds.  For reasons of cost the preferred approach was to fit new lids to additional green bins so that they could be easily identified by operatives and residents. 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor P L E Bucknell, Ward Member for Warboys and Bury, addressed the Panel.  Councillor Bucknell informed Members that he acknowledged the Council needed to generate revenue but, in his opinion, this was not the right way to do it.  He expressed the view that residents would not pay the charge for a second green bin and would put green waste in household waste bins instead, which would have an adverse effect on the waste service budget.  He also expected that implementation of the proposal would lead to an increase in fly-tipping.  The proposed charge amounted to a significant sum compared to the District Council’s portion of the Council Tax.  Furthermore, in Councillor Bucknell’s opinion, properties with additional green bins tended to pay higher levels of Council Tax, which should afford them collection of a second green waste bin without having to pay an additional charge.  He suggested that VAT would apply because the charge being incurred was for a service.  Finally, Councillor Bucknell reported on his discussions with a Cabinet Member of a London Council that had introduced such a charge who had expressed the view that it was a mistake to do so.

A Member highlighted the fact that it was not just properties in the higher Council Tax band which benefited from the enhanced service.  Further to this, the experiences of a London Borough Council were not comparable with this Council and a comparison with a rural area would have been preferable.

The view was expressed that the waste collection service was one of the most highly valued  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38